With school committee chairman Ralph Cahoon saying that Barnstable residents may be talking about the accomplishments of the last two years half a century from now, Tom McDonald ended his 24-month tenure as interim superintendent.

"Tom has set the benchmark for superintendents to meet," Cahoon said at Tuesday's school committee meeting, "and not just in Barnstable."

"I want to thank the committee for taking a risk with me," McDonald said, "and my family for putting up with me, and the incredible staff."

Committee member David Lawler said McDonald, had he chosen to go into business rather than education, "would be a multimillionaire. Instead of enriching himself, he chose to enrich all of us."

Member Debra Dagwan said there are "some things about him that I'd like to emulate," adding that, "I've made a friend over the past few years."

Asst. Supt. Glen Anderson thanked his comrade for inviting him to join the leadership team with this provisio: "You said you wanted to hear what you needed to know and not what you wanted to hear."

Peggy Dandridge of the committee was at home nursing a leg injury, but her English roots were respected by vice chairman Patrick Murphy. He quoted Winston Churchill, who described his first encounter with Franklin D. Roosevelt as akin to "opening the first bottle of Champagne."

Everyone who works with McDonald, said Murphy, "can feel that energy and hope attached to everything you do."

EFM

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